PESHAWAR: The Pashto entertainment industry according to experts and artists is on the verge of collapse because of prolonged lockdown in the wake coronavirus outbreak and a large number of people related to film, stage and art quitting the field.

The situation is so grim that on coming Eidul Azha no prominent artist has planned to launch new album except a few who are running their YouTube channels.

“Around 15,000 people related to Pashto entertainment industry are waiting for the government relief package,” said Tariq Jamal, chief of Awaz, an artist’s welfare organisation. He said the KP artist community was the worst hit even before the pandemic as it already had been affected by militancy.

“KP culture minister Shaukat Yousafzai had called a meeting a month ago for discussing the issues of our community, but a week ago it was through media reports that we knew that our summary had been rejected by the culture department. Over 800 performers, musicians and folk artists have been directly affected due to the coronavirus emergency,” Mr Jamal said.

No new album planned for Eid

Noted Pashto film star Shahid Khan told Dawn that Pollywood (Pashto film industry) had almost lost the battle of its survival to the prolonged closure due to coronavirus pandemic.

He said cinegoers would perhaps never enjoy the silver screen especially till the government announced a big relief package for the entertainment industry.

Recently, Zaheer Zaman, a top Pashto folk singer, was seen selling mangoes on Peshawar street. Talking to this scribe, he said finding no other option he was forced to become a vendor, which should serve as an eye-opener for the authorities concerned.

With over 300 albums to his credit, Mr Zaman has worked for film, TV for the many years. He has earned the title of ‘Sonu Nigam of Pashto folk music’ for his quality rendition.

“The KP government should take notice of the miserable condition of the artist community,” the artist-turned vendor lamented.

Rashid Khan, president of Hunari Tolana, said he along with his colleagues had met KP director culture and other officials a month ago seeking relief package for the KP artists and they had also received assurances on behalf of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan.

“Unfortunately, it remained a lip service as no one in the office of the provincial culture directorate attended even our phone call,” Mr Khan complained.

“Two days ago a senior tabla player Fida died in extreme poverty while application for financial assistance of folk singer, late Shahryar Shaoor who died of Covid-19, was still lying on the table of KP culture secretary for approval for over a month,” he regretted.

An official in the KP culture directorate said the government was working on a plan to address issues of the artist community.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2020